Defence expected to call up to 25 witnesses in trial against former KLA leaders

According to a joint statement of defence, 15 witnesses are said to be expected to testify physically in the courtroom, while the rest of the evidence is expected to be submitted to be written according to Rule 153 and 155, reports the “Justice Vought“.

It says Thaci's defence is expected to call up to 12 witnesses to testify physically, but that number could be even smaller.

In contrast, Krasniqi's defence is expected to call up to 10 witnesses and that five of them witness directly, while others in writing.

According to the statement thus far, Wessel and Selimi's defense have said they have no intention of calling witnesses, but they reserve their right to present evidence.

On the other hand, it is said that based on these estimates, the entire defence case is expected to last about three months, while also counting on possible delays.

But currently, the defence has demanded that their procedural deadlines be extended following the court's decision on June 5, 2025, which set deadlines for each of the parties and participants for the continuation of the case in this case, in case the demand to drop the charges is partially or entirely denied.

The defence was ordered until 16 July 2025 to announce the trial body in the event, aimed at presenting its case and handing over its list of witnesses until July 21st 2025.

A preparation conference is expected to be held on July 21st 2025, where the issue would be disclosed.

The defence has demanded that its list of witnesses be handed over by 18 August 2025, calling in logistics and procedural steps they must take and cannot meet within the current deadlines.

“Some of the defence teams should get approval from the 107 rule providers for it: (i) uncover documents that can be used or submitted as part of the defence issue; (ii) reveal the identity of potential witnesses; (ii) prepare and reveal finalised statements of these witnesses; and (iv) allow witnesses to testify in these procedures. While discussions and negotiations with the 107 Rule providers are under way, this process has not been able to progress significantly until the limits of the SPS issue were determined, including the content of accepted materials”, the statement said.

The defence has said that if the existing deadlines are not extended, defence will not be able to meet its obligations according to Rule 119 (4). This rule stipulates that within 30 days from the preparation conference, which is scheduled to be held on July 21st 2025, the date is set for the opening of the defence issue.

As a result, the defence issue is expected to begin from August 25th 2025th onward.

But, according to defence projections that are counted in the preview, they aim to call the first witness on September 15, 2025, which is within schedule from the preparation session, which is proposed to be held on August 18th 2025.

The defense has been reasoned that there hasn't been much time in the process of preparing for her case by citing the many demands you have had to answer, preempt, intensive trial hours, etc. According to them, all of these have limited the timing and investigative defence activity.

As the prosecution closes the case, the defence says they have had to focus on preparing a series of scriptures, including their preambles to requests for accepting volume documents in evidence.

In addition, the defence says they had to deal with the motion to drop the accused and others. According to the defence, since the prosecution's announcement of closure of the case, they have made 44 presentations in the case until June 13th 2025.

According to protection, their demand is reasonable and would cause no harm to the parties.

Meanwhile, on April 15th 2025, the prosecution has announced that it has completed presenting evidence in the case.

The Specialised Prosecutor's Office, on September 30th 2022, has handed over the confirmed amended indictment against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, which consists of ten points on charges, where the latter are charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

On April 29th 2022, the Specialised Prosecutor's Office had handed over a amended indictment to Hashim Thaci, Kadri Wessel, Rexhepi and Jakup Krasniqi, where four indictees have committed war crimes even in Gjilan, Budakov and Semtish.

On November 9th 2020, in their first appearances, Hashim Thaci's Jakup Krasniqi has been declared innocent of the charges placed on them. Wessel has also been declared in his presentation on November 10th, as has Rexhep Selimi on November 11th.

The incident against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veselini, Rexhep Selimit and Jakup Krasniqi is confirmed on October 26, 2020./Periscopi/